Granular material spreader



NOV- 20, 1934- N. K. DlcKERsQN GRANULAR MATERIAL SPREADER L Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1955 lullin' nvenfor /V /l/.z'c/rerson Bygww man Home y Nov. 20, 1934. N, K- DICK'ERSON 1,981,095

` GRANULAR MATERIAL SPREADER Filed Dec. 16. 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 q N W `-l N f Y. l

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Invenior Filed Deo. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor /V. /z'c/ferson `/qllomey Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTLoFr-lce GRANULAR MATERIAL SPREADER Norvin K. Dickerson, Pickens, S. C. Application December 16, 1933, Serial No. v'102,804

1 Claim.

'Fig

This invent'bfdn'relates to an improved spreader for loose granular material, especially sand, cracked stone and gravel, such as is used for roadV construction and surfacing work, and the invention relates in particular to an attachment for dump .trucks and corresponding conveyances for such materials.

Under ordinary circumstances in surfacing certain types of highways, it is the practice to coat the traction surface with adhesive tar or asphalt and to thereafter spread loose aggregate, such as gravel, over the tar to adhere thereto. As a general proposition, the gravel is unloaded in piles along the margins of the road and spread by the workmen using shovels. The present invention comprehends an arrangement whereby an even and uniform layer or lm of gravel may be spread directly from a moving dumping truck or the like, the truck being moved in a reverse direction and the gravel spread in advance of the rear wheels so as to provide a non-adhesion surface for the unimpeded travel of the truck.

'I'he principal novelty of the invention is predicated upon a novel end-gate in the form of an attachment especially constructed and valved for releasing the gravitating mass of gravel through the instrumentality of manually actuatable mechanical control or valve means.

In reducing the invention to practice and developing the preferred embodiment of the invention, I have evolved and produced a structural assembly which is readily machinable, provided with an easily tripable valve and otherwise mechanically perfected and refined to accomplish the desired results in a highly practicable and satisfying manner.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a fragmentary portion of a motor truck, -with the tiltable body in material discharging position and illustrating, the adjustable spreader attachment in operative position thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment, with portions in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the regulatory valve unit.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the detachable, interchangeable actuating handle'for the rocker shaft.

Figure 5 is a rear end elevational view of the,

assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view disclosing the features of construction of the attachment. Y

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear end elevation of the hopper-like receiver, with the valve unit removed.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the valve unit.

Referring first to Figure 1, it will be observed that the wheel supported chassis of the truck is denoted by the numeral 9 and the hingedly mounted tiltable truck body is indicated at 10. 'I'he essential part of the attachment is referred to broadly by the numeral 11. The body of the attachment is somewhat in the nature of a sheet kmetal ,hopper-like receiver which vis fashioned to function as a spout or chute. It is attachable to the body of the truck at the point where the end gate (not shown) would be arranged. Referring to Figure 6, it will be observed that this hopper or chute embodies a substantially at bottom 12 formed with an offset attaching lip 13 riveted or otherwise secured to the under side of the bottom of the truck body. This disposes the bottom 12 flush with the bottom of the truck body so as not to obstruct the fluent movement of the gravel (not shown). The vertical end walls 14 of the chute are formed with flanges 15 secured to the side walls of the truck body and this disposes said end walls 14 in substantial longitudinal alignment with said side walls. That side which may be described as the top 16 of the chute is inclined rearwardly and downwardly and terminates in spaced relation above the bottom l2 so as to define a horizontally elongated or substantially rectangular discharge opening or slot 17. 'I'he angle irons 18 and 19 secured to the bottom 12 and top 16 are used as reinforcing elements and afford the requisite properties of strength and rigidity.

The regulating valve unit is differentiated by the numeral 20 and is of the construction depicted clearly in Figure 3. It comprises an arcuate valved plate 21 attached by bracing webs 22 to the tubular rocker shaft 23. This entire valve unit is disposed exteriorly of the chute and the extended end portions of the rocker shaft are mounted for oscillation in bearing openings formed in rearwardly projecting suspension brackets 24 carried by said chute. It will be noted that the extended ends of the rocker shaft are apertured, as at 25, to accommodate the tapered end 26 of the detachable, interchangeable lever Y or handle 27. 'I'his permits the handle 'to be arranged at either end of the rocker shaft so that it may be conveniently grasped by a walking atit is accessible for easy removal and repair.'

Moreover, it isf visible to the walking attendant so that he may regulate the 'ow of gravel as conditions require. It is`evident too that the flush relationship of the bottom 12"ofthe chute with respect to the bottom of the truck affords an unobstructed and continuous flow of the gravel through the discharge opening when the truck body 10 is tilted for gravitation of the material. The hopper-like formation of the chute serves to concentrate the material at the point of discharge so that it can be adequatelycontrolled.

As before stated, in accordance with the method of operation herein proposed, the truck is moved in a reverse direction and the gravel spills out to form a surfacing layer over which the truck wheels travel, thus laying the traction surface in advance of the rearwardly moving truck and considerably expediting thework of spreading the gravel.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as lillustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be restarted to -in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

In combination with a vehicle having a dump body, a hopper-like casing connected with the rear end of the-body for receiving material from the body when the same is in dumping position, said casing including a flat bottom forming a continuation of the bottom of the body, a pair of end members having their upper edges slop.

ing downwardly and outwardly, and a top member, said top member sloping downwardly and outwardly and having its lower edge spaced from the outer edge of the bottom to provide an elongated outlet opening, reinforcing members connected, one to the lower facefof the bottom at the outer end thereof and the'other connected to the upper face of the top member at the lower end thereof, said members being flush with the ends of said bottom and top members, outwardly extending plates connected to the outer endsof the end members and forming extensions of the end walls of the outlet opening, a shaft rotatably supported by said plates, with its endsprojecting beyond said plates, an Aarcuate valve plate for controlling the opening, rearwardly extending members connecting the plate with the shaft, and a handle member connected with a projecting lend of the shaft for adjusting the valve plate,

said plate engaging the reinforced ends of the bottom and upper member during its movement, which acts to remove material sticking to the valve plate. y

' NORVIN K. DICKERSON. 

